Time-controlled electric switch



oef. 16, 1923. f 1,470,867

y J. F. NEWSOM TIME CONTROLLED ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Sept. 28. 1921 "il: I M 2/ MINUTES FIS' 2" 15 an @1L/ v WITNESS v INVENTOR Mmw -/ a ATTORNE Ys Patented Oct. 16, 1923.

JOHN F. Newsom, or PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA..

TIME-CONTROLLED ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application ined september 2s, 1921.-L seriai No. 503,872.

T o all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. NEwsoM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Palo Alto, Santa Clara County, State of California, have invented. a certain new and useful Time-Controlled Electric Switch,of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a time controlled electric switch which is actuated at variable predetermined intervals to open an electric circuit. f

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which operates at predetermined time intervals to move a switch openin element, which element acts to open the switch in the event that it is closed.

Another Object of the invention is to provide a switch opening mechanism which is Operable at predetermined variable time periods to open the switch at such time periods in the event that it is closed.

A large number of persons indulge inthe habit of reading in bed, usually for the purpose of inducing sleep, and often fall asleep with the electric reading lamp burning. The presence of the burning lamp is not conducive to restful slumber and causes a weariness and irritation of the eyes. In order to avoid this, the reader must constantly bear in mind that he must switch Oil the light before he falls asleep and this continual thou ht retards the coming of sleep' and the slight physical exertion necessaryto switch ofi' the light often dispels the drowsiness which was produced by reading. The device of my invention will operate to switch off the lamp. at the end of a predetermined time period, which maybe varied to suit the habits of the reader, so that he may retire and read, without any thought of the burning lamp, since he knows that the light will be switched off at the end of a selected interval. If it is his habit to read for about ten minutes, he may set the device to open the circuit at the end of fifteen minutes and if he is inthe habit of reading longer, he may set the device for a longer elapsed time period. If he is still. reading when the circuit is opened, he need merely press a button to again close the circuit, which will again be opened at the end of the selected time period.

The invention possesses other advantageous features, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth at length 1n the following description, where I shall outline in full, that form of the invention which I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. In said drawings I have 'shown one form of the apparatus of my invention but it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to suoli form, since the invention, as set forth in the claims, may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

I have referred to the utility of the inven tion in connection with a night reading lamp, but it is to he understood that its u-tility is not limited to such use, since it may be advantageously employed in many other instances where it is `desirable to open an electric circuit at the end of a predetermined variable time period.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of the apparatus of my invention enclosed in a casing, the casing being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a fragment of the casing.

The apparatus of my invention is arranged inl connection with a suitable clock mechanism, not shown, which is provided with a release mechanism, such as the striking re lease mechanism employed on striking clocks.y Many clocks are provided with a quarter hour striking mechanism, which is released every quarter hour to strike a gong or chime and since these mechanisms are well known, they are not shown or described herein. The apparatus of my invention is connectedy to the striking release mechanism, but the striking mechanism Land gong is omitted for obvious reasons. In the present construction, I have shown Van apparatus" which is operative to open the circuit at the end of either a fifteen minute interval, a thirty `minute interval or a sixty minute interval, depending upon the setting of the apparatus., Many forms of 'devices may be `employed for opening the circuit, and in the present construction, for the purpose of illustration, I have shown an apparatus actuated by a' clockrmechanism provided with a strike release mechanism, which operate-s at the fixed predetermined intervals to cause rotation of the shaft 2, the shaft beingrotated preferably for a single complete revolution. y a pinion 3 which meshes with a gear 4, rotational movement of which, operates or tends to operate the switch; Secured to and projecting laterally from the gear 4, are a plurality of regularly spaced pins arranged Y Secured to the shaft ris L i gular spacing ot the pine.

construction, the pine are representthree di'd'erent tinie riainely: l5 niinntes, 30 minuti minutes, though other time inter be. Selected when desired.

in the resent arranf" fi to eriralsi.

:i nd

the pine are if; i ditlerent iene' li pins 'l through eut all or t further :ind a plane he gearwi'ill ingA trio trip Will be. resiiondi'ie tlie selected pins have a second, plane. and in the thir Spacing. 1

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eine@ other nisnis inap' be tage.

Dispose i. i'or i,

f rr: need in lamp afin l@ with the enga pin oli i the "i" l' 'he fslizill iS recited .ii

the adieeent lcircuit. Yvlii h ins; o ie. reanS are provide( the ii-cuit eoinprising; a. i extending through tl a stein Q22 disposed c i the piz'oted switch ari S. the lnit' i nietes the einteli arni to close the vWhen the device ie to be need. the wip ie set in the desired plane and "lil l i' pressed. closingY the eirenit. opened subsequently. trip liz.' one of die `oins setting of the trip. Other forms or devices niay be employed without g ir'iforn the :scope of this invention.

a person who reads liabituall)v lfor about. 3l) niinures ar'ter retiring7 will eet the trio at tlie thirty niinute indication, and may read and lall asleep with an untroubled niine. Should the dei'iie operate to open iiii lor tie switch in tliepath or tlie pros, t* i. i i

ie/stief said trip and nieniber being relati el)v nio'ali e in .ein axial direction. Where- 1 frequency o operation of the trip Switch, an intermittently rowlieel, a. plurali@v of projections of' lene'the1 carried by the wheelj Said ns extending in a direction parallel s oi the ii'lieel, an eleetrie Switch, trip .lfoif the switch adopted to be optlie projections, said trip and relative jij adj@ :table in a direcel to the axis ot the wheel, Wheref; fiiejf o l" operation o'l the trip varied. a time sniteli, il rotatable Wheel, a tia j.' ot proie;tiene` o'l 'arying length lirried by the Wheel. an electric switch, and Vtor the switch adapted to be operated projections. Said trip and wheel beingr tlatii'el;Y :djnstnble that it mayv be reel Viti-oni the influence ot a varying nunr oit progeetione.. wlierebr the frequency 4. In a linie switch. a rotatable Wheel, a plurality ot projections of Varying length carried bjc the wheel, an electric Switch, and :ienne for operating the s titoli, said means `)eine adapted to lie engaged by the projections, and being adjustable relatively to the e Wheielgiji the frequency ot oper: .r Switch ii i be varied.

5. An time switch, a rotatable wheel, a plurality ol? pine projecting Afrom the Wheel in a direction parallel to that olf the axis of rotation ot the shalt. said pins being ot Varying lengths. an eleetrie Switch, a giuide arranged iiinllel to the pins, and a trip for "l Snitch :idjnstalily mounted on the guide all@ and arranfred to lie operated by a varying number ot the pins dependent upon its adjustment on the IUnido.

6. In a tirie switch. a wheel adapted to be rotated by a tiine mechanism, a plurality of projections ol' arying lengths extending from the wheel, an electric. switch, a guide llO arranged near the wheel and a trieadjustably mounted on the guide so asl to in the path of travel of the projections and to be adjusted so as to be capable of operation by a varying number of projections; v

7. In a time switch, a wheel adapted to be i rotated by a time mechanism, a pluralit of projections of va ing lengths exten ing from the Wheel an parallel to the axis-of rotation thereof, an electric switch, and means for operating the switch in accordance with the rotation of the arranged substantially JOHN F. NEWSOM.. 

